Hard Eight

Unlawful Detention Agent Stephanie Plum is faced with a significant challenge: Annie Soder, age seven, and her mother Evelyn have vanished.

Steven, Evelyn's divorced husband and the dubious proprietor of a divey pub, is not pleased at all. Steven is requesting the money guaranteed by the child custody bond, which he and Evelyn signed during the divorce procedures, in order to locate Annie. Evelyn's grandmother's home served as collateral for the loan, and the True Blue Bonds Bail Agency is attempting to seize the home.

A bounty hunter's mission is not to locate an abducted child. However, Stephanie's parents live next door to Evelyn's grandma, and Stephanie's mother and grandmother are not going to see their neighbor lose her home due to kidnapping.

Stephanie can't let Grandma Mazur down, even if her plate is full with criminals who skipped their court appearances, such as her longtime rival and aggressive alcoholic Andy Bender and an elusive tiny old woman charged with grand theft auto! Following Annie and Evelyn's trail, she discovers far more than she had anticipated. Somehow, Steven is connected to the terrifying Eddie Abruzzi. Although Stephanie is warned about Abruzzi by her mentor and tormentor, Ranger, and Trenton police officer and on-again, off-again fiancé Joe Morelli, it's Abruzzi's eyes and demeanor that most terrify Stephanie. Even though it could mean getting too close to Ranger, Stephanie is eager to accept his assistance in finding Annie since she needs his shrewdness and knowledge.

Annie was located by Stephanie, Ranger, Lula (who won't miss riding with Ranger), and Evelyn's lawyer/laundromat manager. Stephanie's posse, the agent for the True Blue Bonds, a Rangerette named Jeanne Ellen Burrows, and the Abruzzi crew find themselves in a race against time throughout the hunt. Not to mention the fact that a murderous bunny is running wild!

Prepare for the ride of your life by putting on your helmet. Firm Eight. There has never been more chaos in Plum's universe.